Machine for sueding cloth



G. M. CURTIN APPARATUS FOR SUEDI NG CLOTH Aug. 26, 1941.

Filed Oct. 22, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 5M 02 1i 1 f I I l 1 m I, f I I n 5 5 Q2 Q2 m2 R 5 a 2 INVENTOR I Q ATTORNEY Aug. 26, 1941. e. M. CURTIN' APPARATUS FOR SUEDING CLOTH Filed Oct. 22, -1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Far man INVENTOR BY '2 M W, 19 047,.

ATTORNEY Aug. 26, 1941.

G. M. cu 'nN APPARATUS FOR SUEDING CLOTH Filed Oct. 22, 19 10 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY Tatented Aug. 26, 1941 UNITE D STATES PAT OFFICE.

MACHINE non SUEDING CLOTH George M. Curti'n, Gloversvilleg N. Y. Application October: 2.2, 1940',-Serial No. 362,200

13 Claims. (.01; 26-28) This application relates to the sueding of clothand is a continuation in part of my co-pend-ing application Serial No. 281-,63-l, filed June 28, 1939;

Due to its thinness and extensibility, the sued ing of cloth has presented special-problems whichha-ve not heretofore been satisfactorily solved. Cloth, particularly knitted cloth such as milanese, is distorted laterally when subjected to ten-' sion longitudinally, causing the edges of the cloth to' curl. The curled edges do not take an evensuede and it has heretofore been impossible to satisfactorily suede the full width of a stripof cloth, often as much as six inches on bothedges being wasted. The thinness and relative non-'- compressibility of cloth alsov makes it difficult to' prevent the cloth from slipping when engaged by the rapidly rotated abrasive drum. I-t i's' important to' avoid such slippage for it causes uneven and non-continuoussueding.

Furthermore a very accurate control of theextent of sueding is necessary in sueding cloth, it being obvious that a difference which would be negligible in sueding a thick, soft, and readily compressible material, such for example as felt, might be enough to seriously affect thestrength of a strip'of cloth.

Heretofore it has been customary in sueding cloth to stretch it between guide rolls and to' bring the abrasive means into contact with the" cloth between the guide rolls. The force of the frictional contact between the cloth and the abrasive means has been very limited insuch machines since it is controlled by the tensionexerted on the cloth by the guide rolls. Since only a very limited cutting or breaking of the strands comprising the cloth is attained, in such machines, by an individual abrasive member, such machines ordinarily employ a number of abrasive members and require a multiplicity of guide rolls. Such machines are bulky, requiring a large number of parts, and occupying a large amount of factory floor space. Furthermore, in such machines it is very difiicult to obtain accurate control of the extent and quality of the sueding eifect obtained and the cloth is under longitudinal tension which distorts it laterally causing curling at the edges. 7

In sueding cloth it is desirable, to examine the cloth after a short length of it has been sueded so that adjustments of the machine may be mark; as required. In the prior art machines, once the leader has beeninserted in the machine, it has not been possible to free the cloth and pull it back so that a sueded portion couldbe examined by the operator to determine whether an adjustment is desirable. Instead it has been necessary to run a considerable length of cloththrough the sueding machine, with resultant waste of this length of; material if adjustment is required. One of the advantages of my machine is that it permits the cloth to be freed and pulled back out of the'machine at any time. Thus examination may be made after afoot or two of material has been sueded, thus limiting the loss, where adjustmentof the machine is required; to a foot or two ofmaterial instead of several yards as has heretoforebeen the case.

In my device the speed and ease with which such an examinationmay be made is greatly facilitated. In the prior art machines, in order to make a test, it is necessary toattach a leader to one endof a strip'of cloth and run it through the machine, and repeat this operation after an adjustmentof the machine has been made or else shut down the machine entirely with a stripof cloth init, while anexaminationof the finishis being made, and then restart the machine and wait until a further length of the material has been advanced through thewhole machine before making a further examination. By contrast, in

my device a foot or two of material may be sueded and then immediately released and pulled back for observation and examination by the operator. If an adjustment is required it may be made without stopping the operation of themach-ine, the cloth remaining stationary in the machine until it is desired to renew the sueding operation, after which a further examination of the sueded finish may be made inthe same 1 simple manner.

7 rate whichcontinues to be synchronous with thespeedof travel of' the material between the abrasive drum and presser roll irrespective of the diameter of the roll of sueded material. Very accurate means are provided for adjusting the distance between the abrasive drum and the presser roll. The presser roll is provided with a surface having frictional and penetration qualities which are especially adapted for treating cloth, and means are provided just in advance of the line ofcontact between the presser roll and abrasive drum for pressing the cloth against the surface ofthe presser roll.

The strip of cloth is unwound from the supply rolland advanced between the presser roll and the abrasive drum solely by the engagement of the cloth with the surface of the presser roll, and the sueded cloth is rewound in roll form by supporting it upon a rotating member the peripheral speed of which is the same as that of the presser roll, the roll of sueded material being supported so that it may move in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the said rotating member to compensate for its increasing diameter While its peripheral speed remains constant.

The invention will best be understood if the following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2--2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view showing driving connections for the various members; and

Fig. 4 is a detail schematic View on an enlarged scale showing how the resilient surface of the presser roll is penetrated and displaced by the cloth during the sueding operation.

Referring first to Fig. 2 the letter C indicates a long strip of cloth which is preferably unwound from an idler roller S, mounted in front of the machine, and, after passing between abrasive roll it] and presser roll H, is rewound on idler roller R. Roller R is driven by peripheral contact of the cloth wound thereon upon the surface of the driven roll l2, which, as will be more fully explained, is driven at the same peripheral speed as the speed of the cloth when it leaves the surface of the feed and presser roller ll, after contact with the abrasive drum [0.

The machine comprises a base 20 and the side upright support members 2| and 22 on the rearward portions of which are mounted on bearing brackets 23 and 24 in which are journalled the trunnions 25 and 23 of the abrasive drum l0.

Presser roller H is supported just in advance of the abrasive drum ID, its trunnions 21 and 28 being journalled in pillow blocks 30 and 3| which are slideably supported in tracks 32 and 33 provided for this purpose in the pillow block supports 34 and 35. The position of the pillow blocks in their respective tracks 32 and 33 is adjustable toward or away from the abrasive drum H] by operation of the turn knobs 36 which rotate the spindles 37 the other ends of which are rotatably connected respectively to collars 39 and 40 of the pillow blocks 35 and 3|. Around the spindles 31 the compression springs M are provided, extending between the collars 38 and. the shoulders of the hub portions 42 which are threaded in the upright portions 43 and 44 of the pillow block supports 33 and 35. The interposed springs 41 act as resilient means in case of unevenness in the material being sueded.

The cloth is preferably led to the presser roll I I over a work board 10. The feed and presser roller is provided with a surface 11, preferably of rubber composition, adapted to frictionally engage and hold the cloth C, and to be displaced locally by the cloth while the cloth is in contact with the abrasive drum [0, as indicated in Fig. 4. I have found that exceedingly good results are obtained using for the surface of the presser roll a rubber composition having a penetration characteristic of 300 to 350 as tested with a plastometer using a inch ball.

Above the feed and presser roll ll, just in advance of the point of contact between the cloth and the abrasive drum It, a pinch roller 41 is positioned to press the cloth against the surface of the feed and presser roll to increase its frictional engagement therewith. As illustrated the pinch roller 4! is suspended by means of a pair of brackets 43, pivoted at 49. The position of the pinch roller may be adjusted in accordance with the thickness of the material to be sueded by means of elevating screws 50 which are threadedly engaged in brackets 5| and bear against the banking surfaces 52 on the upper surface of the brackets 23 and 24 which support the abrasive drum. Lock screws (not shown) such as are illustrated in my copending application Serial No. 281,631, may be provided for further securing the pinch roller 4'! in its adjusted position.

In order to free the cloth while it is in the machine, and allow it to be pulled backward to be examined, means are provided, independent of the adjustment means mentioned above, for moving the presser roll H and its supporting means including pillow block supports 34 and 35, and the Work board w, in a plane at right angles to the axis of the abrasive drum. The feed and presser' roll assembly is actuated to move away from abrasive roll It] by depressing treadle T, which, as will be more fully explained causes the feed and presser roll assembly to slide forwardly on downwardly extending portions it of the pillow block supports 34 and 35. The said downwardly extending portions 13 engage flanges f machined in the side frames 21 and 22. Recesses 53 are provided in the bottom portion of supports 34 and 35 which receive antifriction rolls 54 of the bell cranks 55. The latter are pivotally mounted on studs 55 which protrude inwardly from both side frames 2| and 22, and are connected to the treadle T through turn buckle links 51, arms 58 keyed to rock shaft 5e and treadle brackets 63 which are also keyed to rock shaft 59 and at their front ends support shaft 6i on which treadle T is supported by means of brackets Ma. The treadle brackets 60 have extensions 69a projecting rearwardly from rock shaft 59 and supporting between them cross bar 32 on which weights B3 are mounted.

When treadle T is depressed the arms 58 are pivoted upwardly around rock shaft 59 and through turn buckle link 51 raise bell crank 55, which through roller 54 engaging the side wall of recess 53 in pillow block supports 34 and 35, causes the presser roll assembly to be moved away from abrasive roll H3, sliding on the downwardly extending portions Hi of the pillow block supports 34 and 35 which move over the surface of uprights 2| and 22 between flanges 1. As soon as the operator releases treadle T it is rotated upwardly by the weights [i3 acting through treadle bracket extension arms 65a and rock shaft 59, and this causes arms 58 to rotate downwardly, lowering turn buckle links 57, and, through bell crank 55 and roller 54 acting on the rear wall of the recess 53 in the pillow block supports 34 and 35, causes the feed and presser roller assembly to move rearwardly until stops 34a and 35a abut against the frame members 2! and 22. The machine is driven from pulley F5 on the shaft of motor M through belt pulley 76 which transmits the drive at reduced speed to pulley ll affixed on the axle of abrasive drum Ill. The pulley I8 is keyed to the opposite end of the abrasive drum Ill and transmits motion at a still more reduced speed to pulley l9 mounted on shaft 80 to which is keyed the gear 8|, which is in mesh with gear 82 on the adjacent intermediate shaft 83. Also fixed to shaft 83 is pulley 84 which through belt 35 rotates the presser roll H at a still more reduced speed.

Mounted on intermediate shaft 83 is variable speed icey ea, which through 'V-belt i1 drives variable speed pulley 80b, mounted on the end of shaft 88. On the inner side of pulley 80b is fixed the male member 8'9 of the jaw clutch, the female member 90 of which is slidably keyed or splined to the shaft 88 and urged in continuous engagement by the surrounding coil spring 9|. The female clutch member 90 has an annular groove 92 in which engage two studs 93 of a yoke 94. Yoke 94 is part of a bell crank 95 pivoted on shaft 96, journalled in a bearing 81, suspended from bracket 98 on frame member 22.

The bell crank 95 is joined to the tre adle brackets '51 by chains 09. When the treadle T is depressed the clutch members 89 and will be disengaged. When the treadle is released the clutch members are reeng'ag-ed by the action of spring 91.

The roller I2 is fixedly mounted on shaft 88 which is supported in bearings I00 provided in brackets IOI which project forwardly from .the side frame members 2| and '22. As stated above, shaft 88 is driven by variable speed pulley 8512 which in turn is driven by the V-belt 81 from variable speed pulley 86a on intermediate shaft 83. The driving means for shaft 88 is adjusted so that the peripheral speed of roll I2 will at all times be the same as that at which the cloth C leaves the feed and presser roller II after having been contacted by the abrasive roller I0. Adjustment of the speed of roller I2, to compensate for wear of the surface of feed and presser roller II, may be made by changing the position of the two halves of the variable speed pulleys 85a and 8% respectively, (which have not been described in detail herein because they do not form a part of this invention) thereby changing the line of engagement between belt 01 and the inclined faces of the pulley halves, as will be well understood by those skilled in the art.

In the brackets IOI, extending vertically di rectly above the shaft 88, cut-out portions are provided constituting slideways I02 for the slide blocks I03 between which idler roller R is supported. When idler roller R has no cloth wound upon it its periphery will rest upon the periphery of driven roller I2. As cloth is wound upon roller R the slide blocks I03 will move upwardly in slideways I02 but the roll of cloth on roller R will continue to ride upon and to be rotated by the periphery of roller I2. Since the roll of cloth on idler roller R is driven not by the rotation of roller R but by the peripheral contact of the roll of cloth with the periphery of roller I2, the cloth will be wound on roller R at a speed constantly synchronous with the speed at which it leaves the feed and presser roller Ii.

The cloth C upon leaving the surface of feed roller II passes downwardly over guide bar g and is rewound on idler roller R. Adjacent the path of the sueded cloth a brush I05 is provided, and the cloth is normally held in contact with the brush by cross bar I06 supported between the upper end of arms I01, the lower ends of which are affixed to cross bar I08, pivotally supported in the end frames 2| and 22. If desired the cross bar I06 may be lifted from the cloth by depressing lever I09, also fixed to the pivoted cross bar I08.

.A dust shield and collector H0 is removably supported in the frame in position to underlie brush 105. A further dust shield and deflector III is positioned above brush I 05, being secured at itslforwa'rd end to one of the guide bars 9 through. which the sueded cloth passes. In this way any dust and severed portions of the fibers which adhere to the cloth may be removed and confined within the interior of the machine.

From the above description it will be understoodnthat in my machine the pressure of the abrading drum on the cloth may be readily varied toconItr-ol the extent of sueding; the cloth is held without slipping, permitting a deep and even sueding; the cloth may be readily drawn back out of the machine facilitating examination of sueded "portions without substantial waste of material while adjustment of the abrading pressure is being made; and that the machine is simple, occupies only a small space, and does not distort the cloth by pulling it in advance of the :sueding point thus eliminating wastage due to curling at the edges.

What I claim is:

1. A machine for sueding cloth comprising an abrasive drum, and a cooperating feed and presser roll, means for adjusting the distance between said drum and presser roll to vary the pressure exerted on a strip of cloth engaged between said drum and said feed and presser roll, and means for pressing a strip of cloth against the surface of the presser roll in advance of the line of contact between the cloth and the abrasive drum.

2. A machine for sueding cloth comprising an abrasive drum, and a cooperating feed and presser roll, means for adjusting the distance between said drum and presser roll to vary the pressure exerted on a strip of cloth engaged between said drum and said feed and presser roll, and means for pressing a strip of cloth against the'surface of the presser roll in advance of the line of contact between the cloth and the abrasive drum, said presser roll having a surface the penetration characteristic of which is within the range of 300 to 35.0 as tested by a plastometer using a inch ball.

3. A machine for sueding cloth comprising an abrasive drum, and a cooperating feed and presser roll, means for adjusting the distance between said drum and presser roll to vary the pressure exerted on a strip of cloth engaged between said drum and said feed and presser roll, means for pressing a strip of cloth against the surface of the presser roll in advance of the line of contact between the cloth and the abrasive drum, and means for winding the sueded material at .a speed constantly synchronous to the speed at which the cloth leaves the feed and presser roll.

4. A machine for sueding cloth comprising an abrasive drum, and a cooperating feed and presser roll, means for adjusting the distance between said drum and presser roll to vary the pressure exerted on a strip of cloth engaged between said drum and said feed and presser roll, and means for pressing a strip of cloth against the surface of the presser roll in advance of the line of contact between the cloth and the abrasive drum, said presser roll having a surface the penetration characteristic of which is within the range of 300 to 350 as tested by a plastometer using a inch ball, and means for winding the sueded material at a speed constantly synchronous to the speed at which the cloth leaves the feed and presser roll.

5. A machine for sueding cloth comprising an abrasive drum, and a cooperating feed and presser roll, means for adjusting the distance between said drum and presser roll to vary the pressure exerted on a strip of cloth engaged between said drum and said feed and presser roll, and means for pressing a strip of cloth against the surface of the presser roll in advance of the line of contact between the cloth and the abrasive drum, mounting means for said feed and press-er roll slideable toward or away from said abrasive drum, and means for actuating said slideable mounting means to move the feed and presser roll out of operative contact with the cloth whereby the travel of the cloth through the machine may be stopped without shutting oh" the motor or other source of driving power, and a length of the sueded cloth may be pulled back out of the machine for examination.

6. A machine for sueding cloth comprising an abrasive drum, and a cooperating feed and presser roll, means for adjusting the distance between said drum and presser roll to vary the pressure exerted on a strip of cloth engaged between said drum and said feed and presser roll, and means for pressing a strip of cloth against the surface of said feed and presser roll in advance of the line of contact between the cloth and the abrasive drum, said feed and presser roll having a surface the penetration characteristic of which is within the range of 300 to 350 as tested by a plastometer using a inch ball, mounting means for said feed and presser roll slideable toward or away from said abrasive drum, and means for actuating said slideable mounting means to move the feedand presser roll out of operative contact with the cloth whereby the travel of the cloth through the machine may be stopped without shutting off the motor or other source of driving power, and a length of the sueded cloth may be pulled back out of the machine for examination.

7. A machine for sueding cloth comprising an abrasive drum, and a cooperating feed and presser roll, means for adjusting the distance between said drum and presser roll to vary the pressure exerted on a strip of cloth engaged between said drum and said feed and presser roll, means for pressing a strip of cloth against the surface of the presser roll in advance of the line of contact between the cloth and the abrasive drum, and means for winding the sueded material at a speed constantly synchronous to the speed at which the cloth leaves the feed and presser r011, mounting means for said feed and presser roll slidable toward or away from said abrasive drum, means for rendering said winding means inoperative, and unitary means for actuating said siidable mounting means and said means for rendering the winding means inoperative, whereby the travel of the cloth through the machine may be stopped, and a length of the sueded cloth may be pulled back out of the machine for examination without stopping the operation of other parts of the machine.

8. A machine for sueding cloth comprising an abrasive drum and a cooperating feed and presser roll, means for adjusting the distance between said drum and presser roll to vary the pressure exerted on a strip of cloth engaged between said drum and said feed and presser roll, and means for pressing a strip of cloth against the surface of the presser roll in advance of the line of contact between the cloth and the abrasive drum, mounting means for said feed and presser roll slideable toward or away from said abrasive drum, a rotatable member spaced from said drum and said feed and presser roll, means for rotating said member in synchronism with said feed and presser roll, means for supporting a roll of sueded cloth so that the periphery of the roll will rest upon said member and be rotated by frictional contact therewith, means for disconnecting said rotatable member from its driving means, and unitary means for actuating said slideable mounting means and for controlling said rotatable member from its driving means.

9. A machine for sueding cloth comprising an abrasive drum, a feed and presser roller adapted to press the cloth against said drum, means for adjusting the distance between said drum and presser roller to vary the pressure on a strip of cloth engaged between said drum and said feed and presser roller, means for pressing a strip of cloth against the surface of the presser roll in advance of the line of contact between the cloth and the abrasive drum, means for rotating said feed and presser roll to advance the material, and means to rotate said abrasive drum at a much higher speed than that of said feed and presser roll.

10. Apparatus for sueding cloth comprising in combination an abrasive drum, a presser roller, means for rotating said drum and presser roller in opposite directions to engage a length of cloth on opposite sides and to advance it continuously at a speed different from that of the abrasive drum, a take-off roll for engaging the cloth beyond its point of engagement by the drum and presser roller, means for moving the presser roller toward or away from the abrasive drum, means for driving the take-off roll at a peripheral speed substantially the same as the speed of the cloth as it passes out of engagement between the drum and presser roller, said last means including a clutch, and means interconnecting the clutch and presser roll whereby the clutch is opened whenever the presser roller is moved away from the abrasive roll into inoperative position, and is closed whenever the presser roll is moved into operative position.

11. Apparatus for sueding knitted cloth which comprises a single abrading drum, a feed and presser roll adapted to press the cloth against said drum, means'ior rotating said feed and presser roll to advance the material, said feed and presser roll having a frictional surface adapted to frictionally engage the cloth; means to rotate said abrasive drum at a much higher speed than the speed of said feed and presser roll, and a roll contacting said feed roll and positioned in advance of and in close proximity to the line of contact between the cloth and the abrasive drum to press the cloth against the frictional surface of said feed and presser roll.

12. Apparatus for sueding knitted cloth which comprises a single abrading drum, a feed and presser roll adapted to press the cloth against said drum, means for rotating said feed and presser roll to advance the material, said feed and presser roll having a frictional surface adapted to frictionally engage the cloth, means to rotate said abrasive drum at a much higher speed than the speed of said feed and presser roll, means for very accurately adjusting the distance between said roll and said drum to control the amount of pressure exerted on the cloth by said abrasive drum, and a roll contacting said feed roll and positioned in advance of and in close proximity to the line of contact between the cloth and the abrasive drum to press the cloth against the frictional surface of said feed and presser r011.

13. A machine for sueding cloth comprising an abrasive drum, a feed and presser roller adapted to press the cloth against said drum, means for adjusting the distance between said drum and presser roller to vary the pressure on a strip of cloth engaged between said drum and said feed and presser roller, means for pressing a strip of cloth against the surface of the presser roll in advance of the line of contact between the cloth and the abrasive drum, means for rotating said feed and presser roll to advance the material, and

means to rotate said abrasive drum at a much higher speed than that of said feed and presser roll, a rotatable member separate from the feed and presser roll and drum, means for driving said member at the same peripheral speed as the feed roll, and an idler r011 slideably mounted in a slideway' perpendicular to the axis of said rotatable member and arranged to rest upon said member so that the peripheral surface of the cloth wound around said roll will, rest upon and be rotated by said member.

GEORGE M. CURTIN. 

